As a full-blooded Latvian, I guffawed heartily the other day while watching the "Seinfeld" re-run where George decides he needs "an express conversion" to the Latvian Orthodox church so he can marry his girlfriend. Meant to be fictitious, there really is a Latvian Orthodox church, or so my mom says, though the term "kavorka" (translated in the episode as "lure of the animal") was invented. For real Latvian stuff -- and real music, real dance and even real beer from other cultures -- check out the combo "big show" Saturday ...

The Big Show: Start with the Grand Rapids Public Museum's Ethnic Heritage Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a free event with live music and dancing, not to mention beer samples from around the world (1-4 p.m., $6 for those 21 and up). Performances include the Bosnian Children's Dance Group (10:30 a.m.), Dave O'Neil's Irish music (11:30 a.m.), Folkloric dancing (noon), India folk dancing (1:30 p.m.), Ardan School of Irish Dance (2 p.m.), Grand Valley State University Gospel Choir (2:30 p.m.), Pacific Island Dancers (3 p.m.), steel drums (3:45 p.m.), Chinese Association (4:30 p.m.) and Badacuda Club Drum Group (5 p.m.) Ethnic displays range from the Latvian Association of Grand Rapids to the Philippine Cultural Group of Michigan in the museum at 272 Pearl St. NW, with ethnic food for sale, story-telling, a fashion showcase and craft demos. Sponsored by the DTE Energy Foundation, the event applauds the city's rich ethnic diversity.

Press File PhotoBlues band Nick Moss and the Flip Tops are part of the West Michigan Blues Society's Cabin Fever Blues Series at Billy's Lounge.

Finish off the day with the opening salvo of the West Michigan Blues Society's Cabin Fever Blues Series, featuring the red-hot blues strains of Chicago's Nick Moss and the Flip Tops at Billy's Lounge, 1437 Wealthy St. SE. I've seen Moss plenty of times and he's the real deal, just nominated for band of the year by the 2009 Blues Music Awards. Admission is $10. The rest of the series, which runs every Saturday in February: Biscuit Miller and the Mix, Liz Mandeville and Tad Robinson. Details online at wmbs.org.

Other Bracing Stuff

-- Thursday -- Rascal Flatts hits the stage at Van Andel Arena, 130 W. FultonSt., with an opening set by singer Jessica Simpson, who single-handedly has kept tabloids abuzz lately. Tickets, $55 and $75, to the 8 p.m. show available at the arena and Ticketmaster outlets.

-- Thursday -- The harmonica-rich strains of The Tomas Esparza Blues Experience and the country-honky tonk of Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys close out the final Pre-Jammies Concert series sponsored by WYCE-FM at Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

-- Thursday-Sunday -- Not music, but theMichigan International Auto Show at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, is a mammoth spectacle with 300-plus new cars, 14 "Million Dollar Motorway" vehicles priced from $105,000 to $1.5 million, and entertainment by Nik Wallenda, who'll do his tightrope act above the General Motors exhibit. Admission: $10 adults, $4 children 6-14, free for those 5 and younger. Considering the state of the auto industry, just be happy this event is still an event.

-- Thursday-Friday -- Grab a black shirt and ignite that "Ring of Fire," Johnny Cash devotees. Rusty Evans and Ring of Fire perform a tribute show at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW in Byron Center, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets are $27.50 for adults and $17.50 for high school students or younger, available at the Fine Arts Center box office, 878-6800.

-- Friday -- "The Music of the Eagles," a tribute act accompanied by the Grand Rapids Symphony, soars into DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, plays at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets, $30 to $90, available through Ticketmaster. Believe me, that's cheaper than tix to see the real Eagles these days. Online info at grsymphony.org.

-- Friday-Saturday -- The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave. SW, has, well, a different one-two punch this weekend. First up, JJ Grey and Mofro deliver their rock/roots/soul at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets, $13, through Ticketmaster. On Saturday, the finals of the Heavyweight Championship of Rock erupt, with doors opening at 7 p.m.; tickets $8 in advance, $10 at the door, $3 surcharge for minors. The loud West Michigan finalists: Vintage, Our Fate in Hell, Last Rite, Tru-Burn, Ascend the Throne and Kill Tomorrow.

Under the Radar Picks: Take your pick of truly top-notch UTR options. Local indie-rock/pop band Valentiger (formerly known as Happy Hour) hosts a CD-release party at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Sazerac Lounge, 1418 Plainfield Ave. NE, with a $20 entry getting you a copy of the new disc (and some beer). Or, have some real Celtic, Cajun and bluegrass fun with Kinfyre at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at The Black Rose Irish Pub, 100 Ionia Ave. SW, with a $5 cover. Last but definitely not least, enjoy some pop-piano magic when BrieAnna Eklund plays a free show at 7 p.m. Friday at Frenz Coffee House, 4 E. Bridge St., in Rockford. If you've never heard Eklund, she's a bona fide musical force. You heard it here first.

On the horizon: Plenty to revel in with U.K. pop/punk group Los Campesinos! playing Ladies Literary Club on Tuesday, The "Standing Together II" CD-release show with 11 local performers at The B.O.B. on Wednesday and Motley Crue invading Van Andel Arena on Feb. 13 (with Chicago's The Last Vegas, featuring two former Grand Rapids rockers, opening the show).